Fatima Baher

COMM-2150-400-Sp16
Prof: Tammy Phillips
02/20/2016
Project # 1
Overview
Hinduism is a religion known for having many gods and deities, as well as for
its belief of Karma and reincarnation. I have always thought that they believe
in nonstop reincarnation , however, after my interview with a Hindu Priest I
found out that they do have a point where they stop reincarnating, and they
would emerge with their gods. In addition to that, they believe in one god but
they worship many deities resembling the same god in many forms and
states.
Religion or Culture
Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, and it's the oldest
known religion that dates back to 2500-1500 BCE. Hinduism has 330 million
deities. Hinduism's religion is based on reincarnation and karma. It's
believed that what you do in your life of good or bad deeds or intentions;
you'll face it's consequences in your next life. Only when you reach Moksha
that you would be liberated and free from Samsara which is the life, death
and rebirth cycle. Moksha is the final and the desired destination of the
Hindu religion. You can reach Moshka through religious studying or through
Yoga( Fisher). However, the Priest of Ganesha Hindu Temple said: " They say
that they can reach Enlightenment through yoga or meditation, but I really
doubt that, you only can reach enlightenment by studying (religious
Hinduism books), when you become enlightened you know you reached the
Moksha ".
Religious or Cultural Function

I visited the Sri Ganesha Temple of Utah, I was asked by the priest who
was dressed in white, to remove my shoes as I entered the shrine. Another
priest dressed in yellow was standing in front of the main deity called
Ganesha - which has an elephant head-. There were many different sized
deities displayed around the shrine. The yellow dressed priest started
chanting a ritual, which to me seemed like a welcoming chant. It also
included him picking some flowers and putting them in a golden bowl. Then,
he offered the flowers to me as a blessing , and not knowing what to do; I
only touched the bowl and thanked him. I wasn't sure if I should have picked
a flower from the bowl or just touch it only. I found out later that I should
have picked one or more flowers. The priest with the white outfit told me
about the gods names and their specialty and that they worship one true god
through those deities. He had a "U" shaped white line on his forehead
between his eyebrows and a vertical golden line that goes in the middle of
the U shaped line. He said :" It's the God's foot, and it is to give me
enlightenments and wisdom" The Priest has been studying for thirteen years,
and he explained to me that if he dies now, he won't have to start (regarding
his studies) from the beginning on his next life but will continue from year
fourteen. He explained to me that the color of the priests dresses or outfits,
are only based on personal choices, and not on ranks of superiority . He
explained that Hinduism believes in Heaven as well, however, it's only
temporary. He said: "When someone dies and has a lot of good karma, then
he'll stay in heaven as a vacation, and he would spend at least 80% of his
karma there. When it's time for that person to leave heaven and return to be
reborn again; the rest remaining of his good karma will help him in his new
life as well". A person can only be free from Samsara ( reincarnation) when
he reached the Moksha stage. Only then, his soul "Will be free and emerges
with gods". He added, some people call this stage Nirvana, but this word is
more common in Buddhism religion than Hinduism. I noticed that there were
broken coconut fruits scattered in front of the temple, and I asked him the
meaning of this, and he explained that they were offered to the God of

nature, as a part of a religious ritual to bless the newly bought vehicles and
its drivers.
Value Theory
Hinduism believes in many things; such as Karma, Reincarnation, Diverse
and tolerant, and heredity caste system (COMM reading packet pg. 90)).
Based on the text "Intercultural Communications in Contexts", cultural values
are defined as: The worldview of a cultural group and its set of deeply held
beliefs shared by a cultural group". Based on Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck's
value orientation theory, I think that Hindus beliefs go under the nature of
human nature category because of Karma and reincarnation . Karma means
actions and its results (reward by having a better life on their next life, or
punishments by having a bad life on their next rebirth). Some people do bad
things in life but still live a good life, and some do good things but still live
bad lives, and here; the benefit of reincarnation( rebirth after death, same
soul in a different body) comes. If a person didn't get to be punished in this
life for his or her bad deeds, then he or she would have their next entire life
to suffer for what they did in this life. Therefore, people who are suffering
accept their suffering as a punishment and try to make more good deeds to
be able to have a better life in their next life. The Nature of Human Nature
Question and it's second solution say that humans are a combination of
goodness and evil. Therefore, some people emphasize on punishment for
violators of the law, and that value applies on Hindus' belief of Karma and
reincarnation.
Analysis
I think Karma and Reincarnation theory gives the Hindus a sense of fairness.
If they got to be good and gain enough karma they can have a better life and
a better rank in the hereditary caste system - which they believe in -in their
next life through reincarnation. There are four main class systems in the
Hindus culture, and it's called the hereditary caste system. It includes: the

priests, the warriors or nobles, the martinets and artesian , and lastly the
slaves or servants; which are also called the untouchables, because they are
so poor that no one can help them nor no one should. Through my
conversation with the priest, I concluded that the priest believed he had a
good karma in his previous life (reincarnation)that led him to become a priest
in this life. This is not only a better rank in the Hindus community
( hereditary caste system); but closer too to reach the Moksha stage through
his studies. Moksha is the final and desired stage to liberate him from
Samsara (The wheel of life, death and rebirth). Therefore I think Kluckholm
and Strodtbeck's Value Orientation theory of cultural values Nature of human
nature and its second solution applies to the Hindus belief system; that is
Karma and Reincarnation.
Reflection
At the beginning, I was excited and nervous at the same time when I found
out that I had to attend a religious or cultural meeting, that is different from
my religion and culture. I was excited because I was going to explore and
experience a new cultural or religious event. However, I was nervous
because I wasn't sure of how I would be treated during that event. I wasn't
sure if I would be welcomed or faced by unwelcoming gazes since I am from
a different religion. Later, after I went to the Temple and was treated with
respect and love from both priests, that nervousness changed into happiness
and gratitude towards them. In fact, one of the priests invited me to come
on Monday to see the worshipers in action. I learned not only about Karma,
reincarnation and some Hindus' Gods, but about their belief in tolerance as
well. I'm mentioning Tolerance, because I kept on hailing my questions to the
priest and he calmly and gracefully answered my questions without any sign
of bothersome, because I actually took him away from his studies. So, this
was another Hindus' belief that goes under Kluckholm and Strodbeck's Value
Orientation theory's category. After reading Intercultural Communication in
Contexts book chapter 4, and after my own experience ( being nervous for

going into a religious place different than mine) I understand that the
differences in cultural and religious beliefs can cause misunderstandings
(thinking I might be unwelcomed there) and conflict between two or more
different cultures. This knowledge will help me in the future to understand
other people's point of view based on their cultural and or religious beliefs or
values.
Reference
Fisher, M. P. (2013). Living religion (9th ed.). Upper saddle river, New jersey:
Pearson.
Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. (2013). Intercultural communication in
contexts (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Com2150 Intercultural communication [Course reading]. (n.d.). Salt Lake
Community College, SLC.
[Personal interview]. (2016, February 17).